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Apple Watch Series 4

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Comments

  • #662
    murpho999
    Registered Users Posts: 28,388 ✭✭✭✭murpho999


    ballyharpat wrote: »
    Has anyone else noticed that their HRV is reading much more frequently since the latest update?
    I am very happy that this has started, it gives a much more accurate reading overall, it used only read at 2 or 3 times a day, and when I used the breathe app, but now it's reading 10+ times per day. actually, practically every 2 hours.

    That's most likely to do with the new ECG and heart monitoring that was approved and included in 5.2 since last week.

    So the watch will give you a warning if it notices you have an irregular/arrythmic heartbeat.


  • #663
    ballyharpat
    Registered Users Posts: 1,763 ✭✭✭ballyharpat


    Yeah, I was aware of the ECG-it was the reason I purchased the watch initially, but the HRV is great, it was just annoying that I had to do the readings myself, now that it does them regular itself, it makes it way more accurate.


  • #664
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 53,342 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    Was playing with the latest watch in compub, it seems far snappier than my series 2.

    Is it actually much faster?


  • #665
    Blazer
    Registered Users Posts: 17,414 ✭✭✭✭Blazer


    awec wrote: »
    Was playing with the latest watch in compub, it seems far snappier than my series 2.

    Is it actually much faster?

    I'd have all gens of the apple watch and this is by far the fastest. It's practically instantaneous for apps to open.


  • #666
    Bits_n_Bobs
    Registered Users Posts: 1,300 ✭✭✭Bits_n_Bobs


    In the states next week, is there much saving or other benefits to be had by buying an iwatch while there ? My back of the envelope numbers seem to show around €60 saving after paying Ca. Sales tax @8%


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  • #667
    FourFourRED
    Registered Users Posts: 8,537 ✭✭✭FourFourRED


    Blazer wrote: »
    I'd have all gens of the apple watch and this is by far the fastest. It's practically instantaneous for apps to open.

    You could nearly say it’s.... blazing fast

    https://twitter.com/fourfourred



  • #668
    mad muffin
    Registered Users Posts: 8,034 ✭✭✭mad muffin


    awec wrote: »
    Was playing with the latest watch in compub, it seems far snappier than my series 2.

    Is it actually much faster?

    It is. Everything is pretty much instant. Then you have raise to speak and Siri talks back to you. Then you have the slightly larger screen and rounded corners, slightly thinner body and the more rounded design, with the flush button below the crown. There is also of course the ecg and haptic feedback when you rotate the crown. There are also a couple of exclusive faces to the 4. There is also the new heart rate sensor. I haven’t seen any different between the old and new sensors.

    If all that is important to you.

    Saying all that. In real world use, if you don’t use many 3rd part apps or interact with many apps, want or need the ecg and haptic feedback when you rotate the crown. The 2nd series is just as fast. Has the same screen brightness in a square design and more square body (screen on the 2 is better in my opinion as it has hardly any blue shift. The 4 has a much more pronounced blue shift). Is also 50m water resistant. Has the same kind of battery life too. Also there is double the storage. 8gb vs 16gb. Again, I don’t put music on it or photos so it makes no difference to me.

    I use the modular face with battery, time, date in the middle, HeartWatch, weather, step counter. Works exactly the same and just as fast between the 2 and 4. Using this you wouldn’t even notice that the 2 has a square screen and the 4 rounded.

    I get the same battery using this face between the two of them.

    There is a little bit of stuttering on the 2. The 4 is very smooth. Not a bother to me though.

    For me I just couldn’t get on with the aluminium body and glass. I like bracelets, and couldn’t match anything to the aluminium 4.

    So I sold it. Then I got a mint space black 2 stainless steel and sapphire for £180 (€208). More important to me than the speed increase or ecg. Then I got a mint space black link bracelet for $130 (€115). I also prefer the more square design of the 2.

    Besides the ecg, they work exactly the same for me. The 2 will check for a irregular heart rhythm too so it will alert you if it detects a fib.


    Also forgot to mention. The 4 is supposed to have upgraded speaker and mic moved for better clarity. I found no difference. The 2 is as loud as the 4 and the mic is as clear as it ever was. Talking on the 4 or the 2 the other side says they sound exactly the same.


  • #669
    turfthrower
    Registered Users Posts: 213 ✭✭turfthrower


    Update on the Series 4 that can't do ECG because it was bought in Japan.

    I'm gonna be in Belfast this week, so I'm gonna see if the nice people in the Apple store there will swop my Japan-bought Series 4 for an Irish/UK one. I rang AppleCare and asked them and they basically said 'They might, try it"

    They also said that apparently the shop in Japan I bought it from should have told me that it was a regionalised watch, and not the same as those sold internationally. Apparently all Apple hardware is localised in this way - the guy on the phone told me that for example FaceTime is turned off on iPhones and iPads in Saudi Arabia because it's illegal there. (Why? The mind boggles? Is it to avoid women in their home not wearing headscarves FaceTiming people outside their homes? Who knows? Anyway . . .)

    AppleCare said that I should first get in touch with the shop I bought the watch from and they would talk to Apple and attempt to get another one sent to me. But to do that I'd a) have to speak and write Japanese b)send the watch to Japan c)get the shop to send it to Apple and d)get a new watch sent to me.

    Yeah. That's not happening.

    So hopefully they'll just give me a new one.


  • #670
    Creamy Goodness
    Registered Users Posts: 26,556 ✭✭✭✭Creamy Goodness


    Not just Saudi FaceTime is not allowed on phones in UAE.

    the Japanese version of iPhone 7 and above has an extra chip in them to allow them to be used as travel tickets on the Japanese subways.

    There’s tons of little variations in hardware, you need to be wary when buying any piece of hardware abroad.


  • #671
    whiterebel
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 14,830 Mod ✭✭✭✭whiterebel


    turfthrower wrote: »

    They also said that apparently the shop in Japan I bought it from should have told me that it was a regionalised watch, and not the same as those sold internationally. Apparently all Apple hardware is localised in this way - the guy on the phone told me that for example FaceTime is turned off on iPhones and iPads in Saudi Arabia because it's illegal there. (Why? The mind boggles? Is it to avoid women in their home not wearing headscarves FaceTiming people outside their homes? Who knows? Anyway . . .)

    AppleCare said that I should first get in touch with the shop I bought the watch from and they would talk to Apple and attempt to get another one sent to me. But to do that I'd a) have to speak and write Japanese b)send the watch to Japan c)get the shop to send it to Apple and d)get a new watch sent to me.

    AppleCare shouldn't be leading you up the path like this. People buy products abroad because they are cheaper, or not available in their territory. If Apple were to switch out every iPhone or iPod bought abroad they would sell very little in Ireland. AppleStore wouldn't entertain you looking for a swap either. You bought it, it was up to you to find out any regional differences first. When you buy in Ireland you are protected by Consumer legislation, that you do not get buying abroad. I bought a MacBook Pro in Australia, do you think Apple would change it for me, because I didn't check to see if it had an Australian keyboard?


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  • #672
    ballyharpat
    Registered Users Posts: 1,763 ✭✭✭ballyharpat


    does anyone else notice the battery dying faster since the latest update? Mine used to last 2 days easy, now it lasts about 40-44 hours instead of 48-52 hours.....


  • #673
    mad muffin
    Registered Users Posts: 8,034 ✭✭✭mad muffin


    ballyharpat wrote: »
    does anyone else notice the battery dying faster since the latest update? Mine used to last 2 days easy, now it lasts about 40-44 hours instead of 48-52 hours.....

    Did you enable irregular heart rhythm monitoring?


  • #674
    ballyharpat
    Registered Users Posts: 1,763 ✭✭✭ballyharpat


    mad muffin wrote: »
    Did you enable irregular heart rhythm monitoring?

    Yeah. i thought that may be it alright. It reads my Heart rate more frequently and uses that information for my HRV, which I use to gauge my fitness and send it to my coach if it is above or below a certain level without having done an extreme block of training.


  • #675
    Eire Go Brach
    Registered Users Posts: 1,368 ✭✭✭Eire Go Brach


    Had quite a serious incident with my heart last Thursday. Totally unexpected.
    Having a heart rate monitor made a big difference in my decision to go to the hospital.
    The doctors here are very impressed with the ECG function. While it technically only checks for AFIB. It’s quite accurate compared to a real ECG. Not something Apple highlighted.
    Knowing now what I was looking at last Thursday. I would have went into the hospital immediately rather than waiting.

    Apple Watch will more then likely be a big help to be going forward.

    What happened was. I went for a swim last Thursday and going home I noticed my heart rate was quite high and not coming down. Also had a pain in my shoulder/chest.


  • #676
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 38,421 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    Learned something new today.
    Went to work and left phone at home, so obviously connected to the house WiFi.

    Get to work wearing the watch and it obviously remembered it was connected to the work WiFi before.

    I was able t9 receive and reply to texts all day while my phone was at home but watch with me several miles away!


  • #677
    willowthewisp
    Registered Users Posts: 1,019 ✭✭✭willowthewisp


    Hi,
    I have 2 queries for anyone who has one of the watches. Predominantly I want to use the watch when going for a run, and don't want to bring my phone along.

    So specifically when the phone isn't in range of the watch.

    Does the watch track Time Distance & Pace?
    Can you listen to Podcasts from the watch?


    Feedback on this would be greatly appreciated.
    Thanks


  • #678
    jack presley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,687 ✭✭✭✭jack presley


    willowthewisp wrote: »
    Hi,
    I have 2 queries for anyone who has one of the watches. Predominantly I want to use the watch when going for a run, and don't want to bring my phone along.

    So specifically when the phone isn't in range of the watch.

    Does the watch track Time Distance & Pace?
    Can you listen to Podcasts from the watch?


    Feedback on this would be greatly appreciated.
    Thanks

    Yes to both. The watch has GPS so can do all that tracking stuff.

    Apple’s podcast app (which I don’t use so can’t comment on it) can be used without the phone too. Don’t know whether you have to synch from the phone before you leave for your run or whether you can download them directly.


  • #679
    ballyharpat
    Registered Users Posts: 1,763 ✭✭✭ballyharpat


    jack presley wrote: »
    Yes to both. The watch has GPS so can do all that tracking stuff.

    Apple’s podcast app (which I don’t use so can’t comment on it) can be used without the phone too. Don’t know whether you have to synch from the phone before you leave for your run or whether you can download them directly.



    As said above, yes to both, I use apples podcast app, it syncs automatically from the phone, you will have the podcasts available that you subscribe to, they download When charging


  • #680
    willowthewisp
    Registered Users Posts: 1,019 ✭✭✭willowthewisp


    Thanks a million really appreciate your responses.


  • #681
    podge018
    Registered Users Posts: 1,815 ✭✭✭podge018


    anybody find the apple podcast app confusing?

    How can you tell which podcasts are downloaded to the watch and which are only playing because your connected to the phone? I select one, go out on a run without my phone, and 2 minutes later the podcast stops saying no internet connection, awful pain in the arse.

    Really should be a Downloaded section.


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  • #682
    jack presley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,687 ✭✭✭✭jack presley


    podge018 wrote: »
    anybody find the apple podcast app confusing?

    How can you tell which podcasts are downloaded to the watch and which are only playing because your connected to the phone? I select one, go out on a run without my phone, and 2 minutes later the podcast stops saying no internet connection, awful pain in the arse.

    Really should be a Downloaded section.

    It's an awful, awful app. I've tried giving it a go on numerous occasions but always get frustrated when playlists don't play as they're supposed to. There are loads of much better apps out there for podcasting. I use RSSRadio which doesn't seem to be that popular but it does everything I need and is easy to use. Others will vouch for their favourites I'm sure.

    Edit - should have said I sync mine over from the phone and never use as a stand-alone app without the phone so apologies if that’s what you meant.


  • #683
    DelBoy Trotter
    Registered Users Posts: 1,475 ✭✭✭DelBoy Trotter


    podge018 wrote: »
    anybody find the apple podcast app confusing?

    How can you tell which podcasts are downloaded to the watch and which are only playing because your connected to the phone? I select one, go out on a run without my phone, and 2 minutes later the podcast stops saying no internet connection, awful pain in the arse.

    Really should be a Downloaded section.

    I gave up trying after a couple of frustrating failed attempts. Like you, I wanted the podcasts on my watch for runs. I decided to give Overcast a go, and it's infinitely better, much easier to transfer to the watch


  • #684
    kittytwister
    Registered Users Posts: 67 ✭✭kittytwister


    Can someone please advise. Thinking of purchasing an Apple Watch 5 in Uk with cellular. Will it work here, am on three network with iPhone 10. They told me at three that it should work but not convinced. If I go out for a walk or run can I receive calls, can I play music on earphones via bluetooth? as I am a premium subscriber to Spotify with 2 family members, is it a chore to change over to Apple Music as that seems more compatible with Apple Watch? Am I being foolish and should forget the whole idea ? Thanks


  • #685
    Creamy Goodness
    Registered Users Posts: 26,556 ✭✭✭✭Creamy Goodness


    Watch will work but it won’t have any cellular connectivity. You won’t be able to make/receive phone calls using just the watch. Your iPhone will have to be within range.


  • #686
    podge018
    Registered Users Posts: 1,815 ✭✭✭podge018


    DelBoy Trotter wrote: »
    I gave up trying after a couple of frustrating failed attempts. Like you, I wanted the podcasts on my watch for runs. I decided to give Overcast a go, and it's infinitely better, much easier to transfer to the watch

    Bit of a ****show since Overcast latest update. Can’t seem to send podcast to watch for offline listening any more. Lot of similar tales of woe on twitter. Any other apps able to do a similar good job that Overcast once done?


  • #687
    sean72
    Registered Users Posts: 379 ✭✭sean72


    podge018 wrote: »
    Bit of a ****show since Overcast latest update. Can’t seem to send podcast to watch for offline listening any more. Lot of similar tales of woe on twitter. Any other apps able to do a similar good job that Overcast once done?

    Give Outcast a go, I find it the best solution for podcasts on Apple Watch


  • #688
    The Sparrow
    Registered Users Posts: 3,614 ✭✭✭The Sparrow


    sean72 wrote: »
    Give Outcast a go, I find it the best solution for podcasts on Apple Watch

    Outcast is also what I use. Everything else seemed a disaster. Apple have really made what should be a straightforward task into an awful process.


  • #689
    splashthecash
    Registered Users Posts: 2,305 ✭✭✭splashthecash


    Am thinking of jumping into the Apple watch pool for the first time and I see that Series 3 & 5 are currently available on line - given the 3 is currently 3 years old, is it still holding up or would I be safer getting the 5? Don't want to splash out if the features in the 5 aren't mind blowing

    Also, why isn't the 4 available to buy anymore through Apple? Was it a bad seller?

    Also, I don't necessarily want to have my iPhone beside me all the time to get max benefit of the watch - I presume aside from streaming music and phone calls\texts, there are still lots of ways to use it?

    When you phone is on your person, does the watch piggy back on the iPhone's mobile internet connection?

    I do a good bit of running, so am looking forward to going out with only the watch and earphones and listening to downloaded music\podcasts to the watch


  • #690
    PaulT21
    Registered Users Posts: 687 ✭✭✭PaulT21


    splashthecash wrote: »
    Am thinking of jumping into the Apple watch pool for the first time and I see that Series 3 & 5 are currently available on line - given the 3 is currently 3 years old, is it still holding up or would I be safer getting the 5? Don't want to splash out if the features in the 5 aren't mind blowing

    Also, why isn't the 4 available to buy anymore through Apple? Was it a bad seller?

    Also, I don't necessarily want to have my iPhone beside me all the time to get max benefit of the watch - I presume aside from streaming music and phone calls\texts, there are still lots of ways to use it?

    When you phone is on your person, does the watch piggy back on the iPhone's mobile internet connection?

    I do a good bit of running, so am looking forward to going out with only the watch and earphones and listening to downloaded music\podcasts to the watch

    My tuppence worth:D
    The Apple Watch is a great companion for the iPhone and is heavily dependant as a result. I have had a number of the watches and find them great. I currently wear the Series 4.

    My wife has the series 3 and loves it. It will continue to be supported by  for some time I suspect. The Series 5 is basically the Series 4 with an AOD (Always On Display) It also has better processor and I think storage than the series 3.
    I didn't think the AOD was worth the upgrade!

    As for using the watch for max benefit, there are apps for all sorts of things. How much benefit to a user is subjective! Apple Pay is great except BOI don't support it a far as I know. Most other banks do!

    The Apple Watch will not stream Spotify without the phone when running but Apple Music works a dream and you just need to download your Apple Music Playlists and you can leave the phone at home. Podcasts are the same.

    Hope this is of benefit and if you do get an  watch, I don't think you will regret it.:D


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